In front of 4,588 cheering
fans, local favorite Andre Ward stopped Rubin
Williams in the headlining bout on the Fight
Night at the Tank card at the HP Pavilion in
San Jose, California on Thursday night.

Andre Ward (15-0, 10 KOs)
of Oakland, California scored a decisive, one-sided
seventh-round knockout of Rubin Williams (29-4-1,
16 KOs) of Detroit, Michigan. Ward, 168, controlled
the action throughout, taking Williams, 169
½, apart with his jab and straight rights
and lefts. In the second Ward opened up a cut
over Williams’ left eye that would bother
him the entire fight. In the fourth, Ward turned
southpaw and was just as successful with his
straight left hand. He continued his domination
from the right side in the sixth and seventh
rounds, before the doctor was brought in to
check the cut. After referring to the physician,
the referee stopped the bout.

Ward decided not to call
out anyone in specific after the bout, but it
is obvious he is ready to tackle the next level
of competition in the super middleweight division.
Promoter Dan Goossen reeled off several notable
names he has attempted to get in the ring with
Ward. “We tried to make a fight with Sakio
Bika, from the Contender, but he didn’t
accept it. We also tried for Peter Manfredo
and Jean Pascal. Now we will get back in and
get the best challenge we can,” Goossen
stated. Plans are to get him back in the ring
soon, possibly in a regional title bout. While
Ward was not ready to mention any names he is
targeting, the 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist did
talk of his desire to fight in his hometown
of Oakland. “Oracle Arena is next on the
list. I’m gonna pressure Dan [Goossen]
and try and get that fight. I love fighting
anywhere in the Bay Area, I love the fans, but
a lot of Oaklanders are scratching their heads.
‘He’s fighting in San Jose a lot,
but he hasn’t fought in Oakland yet,’”
Ward mentioned.

In the six-round co-main event, Karim Mayfield
(6-0-1, 5 KOs) of Daly City, California scored
a disputed split-decision victory over Francisco
Santana (8-1, 4 KOs) of Santa Barbara, California
in an entertaining back and forth battle. The
first two rounds offered little action as both
fighters felt each other out. Mayfield, 148,
seemed the more active of the two, while Santana
had trouble getting his shots off. Santana opened
up in the third, finding a home for his overhand
right. Things completely changed in the fourth
as Santana, 147, rocked Mayfield with a left
on the ropes. For the remainder of the round
Mayfield looked out on his feet, but Santana
could not put him down. Late in the round Mayfield
went to the canvas, but it was correctly ruled
a slip. Miraculously Mayfield found his way
out of the round by moving and even offering
back at times. In the fifth Santana continued
being the aggressor, as Mayfield slowly regained
his legs. Amazingly in the sixth Mayfield turned
the momentum in his favor, rocking Santana with
an overhand right and completely controlling
the round. Two judges scored the bout for Mayfield,
58-56, while one judge had it for Santana, 58-56.
15rounds.com scored the bout even, 57-57. The
crowd disagreed with the decision, cheering
when Santana raised his hand. After the bout,
Santana said he would welcome a rematch, possibly
back at the HP Pavilion.

WBC Minimumweight Champion
Carina Moreno (17-1, 5 KOs) of Watsonville,
California cruised to a four-round unanimous
decision over Mayela Perez (7-6-1, 6 KOs) of
Saltillo, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico. Perez,
106, proved to be a very capable fighter, but
could not match the speed and skill that has
made Moreno, 106, one of the top fighters in
the sport. Throughout, Moreno moved and punched
from different angles, while Perez continued
moving forward, but with far less success. All
four judges scored the bout 40-36. 15rounds.com
agreed with the judges, scoring it for Moreno,
40-36. Next up for Moreno will be a title defense
against South Korean Dan-Bi Kim (4-0, 1 KO)
on April 17th at the Tachi Palace Hotel &
Casino in Lemoore, California. Already scheduled
for Moreno is another bout, against Eileen Olszewski
(5-0-1) for the vacant IFBA Light Flyweight
title on a June 13th female pay-per-view card
from the Isleta Resort & Casino in Albuquerque,
New Mexico. With Thursday’s victory Moreno
also won the “AM&I Cup” and
a $500 bonus for winning the “You Be The
Judge” contest. All three winners from
the undercard were up for the award, which Moreno
won by crowd response.

National PAL Champion Rico
Ramos (1-0) of Los Angeles, California scored
a dominating four-round decision over Sammy
Yniguez (2-2-1) of Oak Hills, California. Ramos,
120 ½, displayed a flashy boxer/puncher
style, landing power shots with both hands for
the duration of the four rounds. Yniguez, 121,
was game, but could not keep up with the fast
pace Ramos set from the outset. Ramos set the
tone early in the first, landing vicious power
shots and rocking Yniguez in the corner. Throughout
the bout, Yniguez gamely tried to return fire,
and displayed a granite chin by remaining on
his feet. All three judges scored the bout 40-36
for Ramos, as did 15rounds.com. After the bout
Ramos stated he will return to the ring on the
Antonio Tarver/Clinton Woods undercard on April
12th at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida.

Eric Garcia (0-0-1) of Salinas,
California fought to a majority draw with the
more experienced Marlo Cortez (2-4-2, 1 KO)
of Van Nuys, California. Garcia, 146 ½,
seemed to take the first two rounds handily
by jabbing and moving well from the outside.
Cortez, 147, turned the tide in the third after
landing a solid right hand over Garcia’s
lowered left. The round featured exciting two-way
action for the first two minutes. Garcia closed
the round well, getting back on his toes and
jabbing from a distance. The fourth round would
seemingly decide the bout. Cortez came out the
aggressor, landing a few flush shots before
Garcia forced a clinch. The momentum would swing
back to Garcia after Cortez came in with his
head, opening up a cut above his left eye. Garcia
noticed that Cortez was dazed and capitalized
by opening up with combinations while his opponent
was still stunned. Once action resumed after
the doctor checked Cortez’ eye, both combatants
gave as much as they got to close the round.
One judge scored the bout 39-37 for Garcia,
while two judges scored the bout even, 38-38.
15rounds.com scored the bout 39-37, with Garcia
narrowly taking the fourth round. After the
bout Garcia and his camp were disappointed with
the judges’ decision. “I went in
and got robbed,” stated Garcia.

In the opening bout of the
evening, Mike Dallas Jr. (1-0) of Bakersfield,
California earned a four-round unanimous decision
over Alejandro Balladares (0-1) of Fontana,
California in his professional debut. Over the
course of the four rounds, Dallas, 143 ½,
displayed the quick hands that made him a top
amateur. To his credit, Balladares, 141 ½,
kept coming and managed to stay on his feet,
withstanding some vicious shots. In the third
round Dallas started quick and had Balladares
in trouble, loading up with almost every punch.
Even once Dallas tired late in the round, he
was able to place his shots effectively on the
inside and against the ropes. All four judges
scored the bout 40-36. 15rounds.com agreed with
the judges, scoring the bout 40-36. Hall of
Fame trainer Angelo Dundee, who worked Dallas’
corner, was complementary, “He looked
good, he’s a fine prospect.” Dallas,
managed by the well renowned Jackie Kallen,
was an U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier and National
PAL Champion as an amateur. He is next scheduled
to fight April 26th at the Eagle Mountain Casino
in Porterville, California.

The card, titled Fight
Night at the Tank, was promoted by Goossen Tutor
Promotions. The main event and co-main event
air nationally on Fox Sports Net’s Best
Damn Sports Show on Thursday, March 27th. The
four round bouts are also slated to air on Fox
Sports Net at a later date. The next Fight Night
at the Tank card from the HP Pavilion is scheduled
for June 19th.